Biodiversity Stewardship
Feasibility and site assessment for landholders considering biodiversity credits
BIODIVERSITY SERVICES
Thermal fauna surveys
Detecting animals by body heat in darkness, dense vegetation, roof cavities, and wall voids that visual inspection cannot reach.
A thermal fauna survey uses a handheld or drone-mounted thermal imaging camera to detect heat signatures in places that can be difficult to inspect visually, including dense canopy, roof spaces, wall voids, and tree cavities.
In NSW, thermal imaging can be used as part of pre-demolition or pre-clearing fauna checks and within targeted surveys for nocturnal or cryptic species. It supplements, rather than replaces, any species-specific method required by a guideline or consent.
ESEA undertakes thermal surveys across Greater Sydney and regional NSW and combines thermal imaging with visual inspection, endoscope assessment, or acoustic methods where the survey purpose requires it.
WHEN REQUIRED
When a thermal survey is required
01
Council conditions of consent requiring a fauna inspection before demolition or modification of a building
02
Pre-clearance of hollow-bearing trees, to identify occupied hollows before staged felling
03
Targeted surveys for nocturnal or cryptic species that standard methods under-detect
04
Large or inaccessible sites where ground survey is impractical, combined with drone survey
WHAT IS INCLUDED
What an ESEA thermal survey involves
Thermal imaging records temperature differences, so a survey is planned for the time of day and conditions when an animal will contrast with its surroundings, usually dusk, night, or early morning.
Cavities and hollows are inspected with an endoscope where thermal alone cannot resolve them, and visual assessment covers evidence of occupation such as droppings and staining. Where the target is a threatened microbat, the inspection may be combined with dusk emergence counts or acoustic recording as the guideline requires. ESEA’s reporting states what was inspected, when, under what conditions, and what was found.
Recent thermal survey work
Sydney Inner West
Thermal imaging
Endoscope inspection
Visual assessment
Ahead of demolition at a site in Sydney's inner west in 2025, ESEA combined thermal imaging, endoscope inspection, and visual assessment of every building cavity and confirmed no fauna were present in the inspected cavities at that time, allowing the ecological inspection requirement to be addressed and demolition to proceed on schedule.
HOW WE WORK
How we work on thermal fauna surveys
Thermal surveys are usually needed close to a demolition or clearing date, so ESEA plans them around the contractor's programme, attends on the agreed night, and reports within days so the inspection requirement can be addressed and the works can proceed.
Where thermal imaging forms part of a wider pre-clearing or targeted survey programme, one team carries the evidence through, which avoids repeat inspections and keeps the programme moving. Your survey is managed by an experienced Senior Consultant from commencement through to completion, with Director-level review providing an additional layer of technical and strategic oversight.
FAQ
Thermal fauna survey FAQs
ESEA's fees for a thermal fauna survey generally fall between about $2,000 and $10,000 plus GST. The number of buildings or trees, whether a night survey and repeat emergence counts are needed, and whether ground or aerial methods are used drive the figure. A focused pre-demolition inspection and a full targeted microbat survey are different scopes even though both use thermal equipment. We quote an itemised scope so you can see what is included and what would be a variation.
Three to five business days is preferred, and a week or more where several nights, restricted access, or additional investigation may be needed. We do not promise same-day mobilisation.
Yes for canopy, tall trees, and large areas, where a drone-mounted thermal camera covers ground a handheld unit cannot. Building cavities and hollows usually need the handheld camera and the endoscope. Most surveys use both.
Related Biodiversity Services
Dam Dewatering and Aquatic Ecology
Staged drawdown supervision and fauna salvage when a dam is drained
Targeted Species Surveys
Threatened species surveys timed to the season and conditions guidelines require
Review of Environmental Factors
Division 5.1 assessment for council, utility, and public infrastructure works
Vegetation Management Plans
Practical, council-ready plans for retained vegetation and rehabilitation areas
Controlled Activity Approvals
Waterfront land advice and applications for works within 40 metres of waterways
Biodiversity & Ecological Assessments
Statutory biodiversity assessment, from early constraints checks to a full BDAR
Ecological Research
Designed studies and long-term monitoring for councils, agencies, and universities
Thermal Surveys
Thermal inspection of buildings and hollow-bearing trees before demolition or clearing
partner with us
Demolishing a building or clearing hollow trees?
Tell us about the structure or trees and the planned works date. We will plan a thermal inspection that confirms whether microbats, possums, or gliders are present before work begins.